Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright re-introduced bipartisan legislation that would make financial literacy education more accessible to students.

H.R. 2525, the Financial Literacy for Students Act would create incentive grants to states who agree to provide financial literacy education in Title I public elementary and secondary schools.  This bill would allow for significant flexibility, creativity, and innovation in the integration of financial literacy and entrepreneurship education into existing curriculums. Additionally, this bill encourages appropriate professional development for teachers for the teaching of financial literacy education.

“This is a key step to improving financial literacy in U.S. schools,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This bill will prepare students to make sound financial decisions as they enter college and the workforce. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important legislation.”

Under current law, individual states are left to create and implement financial literacy education curriculum and courses in their districts and schools.  As a result, only four states require a minimum of one semester of financial literacy education in primary and secondary school, and only 20 states require that the topic be taught within another subject area.

The Financial Literacy for Students Act is supported by Junior Achievement and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.